Page 108 of Taken by Moonlight

“No worries, chief wolf. Bobby is now working in a drag show in New York. He’s living with an artist named Raymond. We’re pen pals, batting for differentteams.”

I was tired of living in the shadows. They were gray, cloaked me in anonymity. I didn’t have to worry about standing out, gettingattention.

If I didn’t apply myself, I couldn’t worry aboutfailure.

Or getting my heartbroken.

But was it any way to live? I saw colors in auras, beautiful swirling colors that could make a grown man weep. Yet my own personal life was so very ordinary andgray.

Dante and his men offered me a chance to live those colors. The risk was enormous. I wasn’t wolf. Never would becomeone.

They were not my enemy. Nor my people. Dante seemed to know me better than anyone, but I was humanfirst.

I would always be human. Nothing, not even living in a wolf pack, would change that. I thought of the house I had fought so hard to keep, the memories of my family that bound me to Cheyenne and the humanworld.

“What say you, Peyton? Will you have us as yourmate?”

“I can’t.” Tears clogged my throat as I rested my hand on his. “I just can’t, Dante. I don’t belong here. I can’t live here full-time. I belong to the world of humans, notshifters.”

He didn’t blink. “You belong to us, Peyton. You may not shift or be wolf, but your heart belongshere.”

Dante covered my hand with his palm, the move possessive and intentional. “You belong with us, my darling Peyton. We are your new family. Gabriel, Alex and myself. We want no other for ourmate.”

Then he drew in a deep breath. “Please sayyes.”

I wantedto.

I neededto.

But I couldnot.

“I wish, with all my heart, I could do this, Dante. But my life is out there. Not here. I’mhuman.”

His gaze grew a little distant. “You’re psi,Peyton.”

“And human. I have a home already, a home I can’t leave. I promised my parents I would always take care of it. It’s been in my family for generations. I have a job, and I’m not a shifter. I can’t see it working out.” I kissed him, my lips wobbling. “I love you. I love you guys, all of you, but it’simpossible.”

Dante’s expression shuttered. “If that is yourdecision.”

I didn’t want to slam the door shut. Leaving them felt like a knife through my heart. But I had to try to make my own life work out. “Maybe I can return forvisits.”

“If you leave, Peyton, you cannot return for a visit.” Dante snapped the ring box shut. It sounded like agunshot.

“Our rules are quite specific. I bent them to allow you here. You’ve used up your allottedtime.”

He searched my face. “Are you certain this is what you want? If you do, I will not stop you. I would never force you intostaying.”

“I know.” My voice broke. “But I have to gohome.”

I had no other choice. My life was among my own kind, thehumans.

I had toleave.

Even though my heart longed to stay here with them forgood.